Hey everyone!
If you've been following my Tea With VdV series on Instagram, then you know that last night I had guest Tisha C. Jack, event planner and coordinator from TCJ Events, on the live with me to discuss the all-important topic of Common Mistakes In Wedding Planning.
As always during these discussions, there were some real nuggets dropped, and because of the keep scrolling nature of IG, I'm rounding up those key points for you right here to come back to if and when you need it, and to keep in mind as you move forward in your wedding planning.
Knowing what you want in order to have a direction and plan of action is a good place to begin. Indecisiveness can cost you and your vendors time and money. Part of being indecisive can come from not knowing enough about that particular aspect of wedding planning - this is where you learn to trust the expertise and guidance of your vendors and get as much information as possible to guide you about what that area entails.
A major part of being indecisive is listening to too many people around you who don't actually have the skillset, knowledge or experience in a specific field... but they certainly have the opinions! The opinions of many are not to your benefit, especially when they happen to be the opinions of those not financially contributing to the shindig in the first place.
You will quickly learn that inviting too many opinions into your wedding planning process is more likely to cause you confusion and anxiety, because you love and respect your friend and family member and would like to please them all, but the various personalities and tastes will mean that a number of opinions on your wedding decisions will rarely come together harmoniously. If you become confused by too much input from the wrong people, then you will have difficulty expressing what you want to those who are supposed to make it happen, or you will begin to doubt the expertise of those actually executing the tasks. A confused bride and groom will lead to stagnant and unproductive vendors, because we cannot move without your direction or without your trust to make executive decisions for you where you may be stuck.
Boundaries with others are important during your wedding planning. This isn't about everyone else and what they want, but what you and your fiancé want first. Therefore, when you have made decisions about your wedding, stick with them. Stop scrolling Pinterest for further ideas on a plan of action that has been already set in motion - it will only cloud your judgement - and trust that they will be able to bring that extra pizazz based on your original ideas and inspiration. When others ask about your wedding planning details, learning to simply say, "My wedding planner is handling that!" or "My designer has that covered!" or "Thanks! I've already discussed that with my decorator" can be beneficial.
Honesty in wedding planning is key. Being realistic with your vendors about your ideas, but also about your budget, helps your vendors to be realistic with you about finding a healthy balance for the two to meet. Limitless budgets are rare, so when you have decided on a maximum figure you would like to spend, make sure and let your vendor know what they are working with as early as possible. If you aren't sure of the costs associated with a particular wedding item... Ask! Good vendors will give you ballpark figures and price ranges based on details or visuals you have provided. If you can't meet their prices, that's okay... Don't be afraid of letting them know your actual budget so that they can quickly tell you if it's something they can work with or not. The sooner these discussions are had, the sooner we can get to work for you.
(Note: In your first point of contact with VdV, I lay out my starting cost and price ranges very clearly. This is for the benefit of the client as well as myself, because it saves time on both sides when the information is given up front, in order to know if booking a consultation is worth your while)
Personalities matter in wedding planning, and you know yourself best when it comes to what makes you excited or what stresses you out or gives you anxiety. Decide if you are able to relinquish control when you've made a decision on something and trust that vendor's process to make it happen for you. It's important that you and your vendor connect for a good working relationship; so, if you happen to be told, "I don't think that's something I'm able to do for you", see it as a good thing rather than an obstacle, because it means that individual respected you and your time (and your money!) enough to be honest about being able to meet your expectations or demands without compromising their brand vision.
If you make the decision to plan your wedding yourself, there are still several resources available to help you in the process - because we really do care! - including TCJ's Ultimate Wedding Planning Guide, available to purchase now, as well as several FREE tools over at the TCJ website.
Catch you next time on Tea With VdV, darlings!
With Love,
Darcel